Julius Malema, South Africa's firebrand ANC Youth League president, led a march calling for economic freedom for South Africa's poorest flying business class to Mauritius for a wedding.

The 31-year-old, who styles himself as a champion of the poor, attended the three-day nuptials of millionaire property developer David Mabilu, who is based in the Limpopo, Mr Malema's home province and power base.

Mr Malema, who is seen as a kingmaker for South Africa's next president, was whisked to the airport in a blue-light convoy.

As he boarded the Air Mauritius flight, the pilot announced: "Please welcome Mr Julius Malema, the president of the ANC Youth League, on board."

It was reported on Sunday that South Africa's Hawks special investigations unit is considering charging Mr Malema with corruption, fraud and money laundering after uncovering evidence of tenders in the Limpopo awarded to companies with close ties to him.

Mr Malema faces charges including the sowing of divisions in the ANC by challenging President Jacob Zuma and, if found guilty, could be ejected from the party.

Last week, in what was widely seen as a show of Mr Malema's power ahead of the crunch ruling, he led 5,000 mainly unemployed black youths in a march from Johannesburg's Chamber of Mines to its stock exchange and on to the capital Pretoria to call for a more equal redistribution of the country's wealth.

However, Mr Malema has himself faced questions over how he funds a lavish lifestyle which includes a R16m (£1.2m) Sandton mansion, luxury watches and flashy cars.

He recently told an interviewer that he has learned "to live in conditions of capitalism while fighting and defeating it".

He insists the nature of his lifestyle should be a private matter as he is elected by ANCYL members rather than the public.

He was among scores of South African politicians and celebrities who were flown to Mauritius and accommodated by Mr Mabilu as part of his R10m (£800,000) wedding at Long Beach Resort on the island's east coast.

300 guests were entertained with spa treatments, cocktail evenings and an array of big-name DJs and singers.

Mr Mabilu, 42, owns Vharanani Properties, which was awarded tenders to build low-cost government housing in Limpopo. He was marrying Phala Mokgophi, 38, the mother of his three children.